These are the best Legends to use in Apex Legends, ranked on our character tier list for Season 22, to help you decide who to main.
In Season 16, Respawn overhauled the class system in Apex, with Legends now placed into one of five new classes. Then, in Season 20, another overhaul came with the addition of Legend upgrades. All Legends now have four upgrades which can be earned during the game, although you can only select two to use.
Below, you’ll find our overall rankings for the Legends you want on your squad in Season 22. Remember that any Legend can be strong with practice, as even ‘lower-tier’ characters can be great if you know how to use them correctly, though it’s also important to use the best weapons.
Apex Legends character tier list
Best Legend – Bloodhound
Of the Legends in the S-tier, we recommend using Bloodhound. Their tracking abilities are still top-tier, and Respawn hasn’t felt the need to nerf the Legend from its perch at the top of the meta in multiple seasons.
Our tiers explained
Here is a short-hand for how each tier breaks down:
- S-tier: The best Legends in the game
- A-tier: Very good Legends offering an alternative to other options
- B-tier: Less powerful or more complicated Legends that can still perform well
- C-tier: Best to avoid unless you find yourself drawn to them
Now, we’re going to do a deep dive into each character in our Apex Legends tier list, ranking Legends from the top to bottom.
S-Tier characters in Apex Legends
Bloodhound
Overall, Bloodhound is still the best Legend in Apex Legends much of the time. This is thanks to the invaluable information they provide to their team with their powerful but easy-to-use kit.
Although their abilities won’t do any damage, the tracking abilities are unmatched, and if you don’t have a Bloodhound on your squad, you’ll find yourself at a big disadvantage against a team that does.
Bloodhound hasn’t received any major changes for a few seasons, but they remain well-balanced, despite being top of the pile. They are still as strong as ever when it comes to team composition and scouting out enemies.
Bloodhound’s scan is the core of their kit, allowing not just you, but your teammates too, to see enemies in the area highlighted through walls. The only downside to the scan is that enemies will know they’ve been scanned, and therefore know you are close by – but the advantage is still in your favor.
Beast of the Hunt, the Ultimate ability, turns Bloodhound into a killing machine for a time, highlighting enemies in red like a digital threat, and now sends out white ravens to help guide you to enemies. This is aided by the passive, showing where enemies have been recently.
Check out our top tips for getting wins as Bloodhound.
Horizon
Horizon has been one of the most prominent Legends since she was introduced in Season 7. However, by the time Season 9 came around, her dominance in the meta was getting too much, and nerfs were needed.
Her Gravity Lift was targeted, as it was too easy for players to get instant high ground and beam down on foes from above. Now, players will strafe much slower on the lift, making you a much easier target. You will also be kicked off the top after 2 seconds, so you can’t sit up the top beaming down.
Thankfully, since Season 10, players are now much more mobile on Horizon’s lift, making her much more viable. Her accuracy on the lift was nerfed in Season 16, but this isn’t a deal-breaker.
Horizon is still one of the best characters in the game, despite repeated nerfs coming her way, and is one of the most popular among higher-ranked players too.
Check out our tips for playing as Horizon.
Revenant
Added in Season 4, Revenant has had ups and downs in the Apex meta. In Season 18, after falling way down the pick rate charts, Respawn gave him a complete overhaul, with all of his abilities changing.
His Passive ability, Assassin’s Instinct, still allows him to crouch walk faster and climb higher up walls, but it now also highlights weak enemies around him. And if Revenant himself gets an opponent weak, they are also marked for their team.
The new tactical, Shadow Pounce, replaces Silence. Revenant can now leap forward, covering a large distance quickly, to close down on those weak enemies or make a quick rotation. Think of it like an Octane jump pad, anytime you want.
The new Ultimate, replacing his Totem, gives Revenant complete damage protection for a time, with the exception of damage from fire, gas, or the ring. Enemies can destroy this protection by dealing damage to it, but it will instantly recharge if Rev gets a knockdown.
As players have come to figure him out, this Legend has slowly climbed his way to S tier.
Check out the new Revenant reborn here.
Pathfinder
Pathfinder is back to being one of the best Legends to use within the game after successive nerfs saw him drop to the A tier. He’s still one of the most fun characters to play, and if you can master his grapple, you can move like no other character.
The Grapple can still be used to make a quick escape or to push up on weak opponents before they get the chance to heal. Other Legends are better for making a quick escape, but aggressive plays are reworded way more in this meta than passive positions.
His movement is still unrivaled on paper, and the Zipline Ultimate works similarly to the Wraith’s portal, getting your team out of a tight spot, or to get to hard-to-reach locations. Of course, enemies can also use it, so you need to watch your back.
Check out our top tips for playing as Pathfinder.
A-Tier characters in Apex Legends
Alter
Alter is a Skirmisher in Apex Legends and was added in Season 21. What makes her an excellent choice is her ability to open portals through hard surfaces like walls or ground, thanks to her Void Passage tactical. This is especially useful when an enemy has a door blocked, to shield up or heal – you can simply create an opening through the wall to take them down.
Her Gift from the Rift passive ability allows you to remotely loot an item from distant deathboxes. Alter’s ultimate, Void Nexus, acts similar to Wraith’s portal – but the downside is it’s only one way (much like Ash’s ultimate).
The ultimate deploys a device and after using it, it brings you and your teammates back to the point where you dropped it. This can be crucial when you want to escape a fight or get third-partied by other teams and you don’t want them to follow you.
Alter has been nerfed slightly since release but remains a top pick and top-tier fighter.
Gibraltar
Support characters are the backbone of your team, and Gibraltar has encompassed that role within teams thanks to the ample amount of buffs the developers have laid upon him. Even though he isn’t used much in ranked, he is still a formidable Legend in the right hands.
His Ultimate ability has enough potential damage to zone the enemy away, and the Dome Shield can be a lifesaver for not just you, but your whole team. You do have to watch out for enemies using it too, though, as there’s nothing stopping them from getting inside.
Overall, Gibraltar is one of the best characters, but he’s still a big, tanky character who is hard to miss. Some players will definitely find a more nimble character beneficial. With that said, he’s a powerful asset on any team.
Check out our guide on dominating matches as Gibraltar.
Valkyrie
Despite some big nerfs in Season 14, Valkyrie’s unique set of abilities still make her a very strong pick. However other Legends and their impact on the meta have pushed her down to A tier.
Her Ultimate Ability is Skyward Dive, which enables you and your teammates to launch to the sky and redeploy. You will also see teammates in your line of sight highlighted as you are in the air.
Her main passive, the jetpacks, allow Valkyrie to reach almost any spot on the map, and instantly get the high ground, but, they are very loud, which is one of the big drawbacks. You also can’t fire weapons while using the jetpack, making you a sitting duck.
With the ability to instantly rotate with your whole squad, and to get high ground easily in any situation, Valkyrie is still a powerful character, whether you’re playing solo or as a tactical trio. But, if you don’t have a Valk on your team, the new mobile redeploy beacons are a good alternative.
Check out all our top tips for taking down the opposition as Valkyrie.
Caustic
Caustic has moved up and down our tier list like a yo-yo. With buffs, followed by nerfs, followed by buffs again, Caustic has found his way back into the meta at the top level of Apex.
In Season 12, Respawn made his traps destructible even after they’ve been triggered – but, with 150HP per barrel, it’s not actually as big a nerf as you might think. In fact, it may even be a buff, with enemies often directing their ammo at the barrel, or simply evacuating.
In an organized team composition, Caustic is very powerful in the right hands, and with his Gas now much more dangerous, an experienced Caustic player on your team can be the difference between winning and losing.
Check out our best tips on mastering Caustic.
Wraith
Since the release of Apex Legends, Wraith has undoubtedly been one of the best Legends each season. This is in large part due to her ability to create chaos on the battlefield with her abilities. And she is consistently still one of the most picked Legends at all skill levels.
Whenever you and your squad are engaging in team battles, you will often find Wraith sneaking into the backlines or trying to flank her opponents with her Tactical Ability ‘Into the Void’. This enables Wraith to seemingly avoid all damage while getting a better position on the enemies you are battling.
Wraith continues to be at the top of the Apex realm, and will always be a top pick at every level of the game.
Check out our guide on making the best plays as Wraith.
Wattson
Wattson is a great team-based Legend, and in the right hands, can be deadly too. Her Ultimate ability destroys enemy throwables and allows a squad to hold down a position. Your shield will also recharge in the vicinity.
Combined with her Perimeter Security traps, Wattson can be a great squadmate to have if you’re playing as a team. However, she can’t be placed any higher on this list because she certainly isn’t the best pick for solo players.
If you haven’t played Wattson before though, it might take you a bit of time to get ‘good’ with her abilities – knowing when and where to place fences, and using your ultimate when it matters most. With practice, Wattson can be a crucial team player.
Wattson got a slight buff in Season 22, making them powerful and plugging them into A tier.
Check out our tips on how to master a match as Wattson.
Lifeline
Having a Lifeline on your squad can literally be a lifesaver, as she shines in supportive abilities. But, in Season 9, her res shield was removed, meaning teammates are now exposed when being revived by the Drone.
Still, Lifeline can revive two players at once while she continues fighting. Also, her drone now heals faster, at 8HP per second. The new support class means Lifeline can also craft banners of fallen teammates, meaning you never have to be a player down.
Lifeline’s Ultimate was also massively improved in Season 9, as it now guarantees to drop an upgrade to your gear. Having the chance to capture a Legendary or Epic piece of equipment can be the deciding factor in a lot of Apex matches, and Lifeline is still one of the best characters to have on your team.
Check out how to master your plays as Lifeline.
Loba
Although Loba was once a low pick, fixes to her tactical have allowed her to thrive once more.
Respawn has adjusted her Burglar’s Best Friend ability, allowing players to slide/move and shoot at full speed when the bracelet is equipped. This is a significant change that should see fans flock to Loba in addition to it being much less buggy.
On the flip side, they did increase the cooldown for her Black Market Boutique from 90 seconds to 120 seconds, and it has been increased again to 150s in Season 18. But this is not that big of a deal, considering it’s still a short cooldown compared to most other Ultimate abilities.
The changes to her bracelet are the main reason that she moves up to A tier, and is now truly one of the most powerful characters. Also in the support class, she gets the ability to craft banners too.
Check out our guide on racking up the wins as Loba.
Vantage
Added in Season 14, Vantage is a solid pick, especially for players who like to snipe, but can be quite niche too.
If you love fighting at a distance then, of course, Vantage will be a great pick, but her tactical also allows for quick maneuvers if things get a bit too close and personal.
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Vantage has been given some steady buffs in the past few seasons, moving her up the food chain, even in the highest ranks of play
Check out our top tips for playing as Vantage.
B-Tier characters in Apex Legends
Catalyst
Catalyst, added in Season 15, bears few similarities to other Legends, as her abilities all make use of ferrofluid, of which she has masterful control.
Catalyst isn’t exactly a meta Legend, but her Ultimate being able to counter scans (mostly) is obviously a big plus, with Bloodhound being so popular.
Her Passive, the ability to reinforce doors, is a great ability when combined with other defensive legends on your team – but if you’re playing with an Octane and a Pathfinder, you might find it a bit more situational.
Finally, the Tactical, which slows enemies caught in the ferrofluid trap, is a great evasive ability, but how useful it is in attacking a team is questionable.
Catalyst is certainly a very useful Legend, but remains very niche.
Check out our top tips for playing Catalyst.
Octane
The speedy trickster Octane is definitely one of the most fun Legends to play. Running super fast with his stim, soaring over enemies with the jump pad, and healing on the move makes him a joy to play.
His stims will now damage you by 20HP instead of the previous 12HP, though, so you have to be a bit more careful. The cooldown is now reduced too, meaning you can pretty much instantly spam the stim again – but you’ll be down to very low health quickly if you do.
The jump pad is one of the best movement abilities in Apex, and the whole team can use it – but so can enemies.
He’s not quite as good as the S-tier characters, and his abilities won’t help you win many gunfights, but if you’re all about speed, Octane is the Legend for you. He is often among the top three most popular legends, thanks to how fun he is to play.
Check out our guide for dominating matches as Octane.
Bangalore
You would think that a Legend with the ability to cover the battlefield with smoke grenades would be at the top of any Apex Legends tier list. However, in the case of Bangalore, she has been flying under the radar since the game was released.
Her smoke is certainly useful, but more often than not, it’s used for trying to escape from a tight spot. There are other characters that are better for this including Loba, Octane, and Wraith.
The problem now is that there are far too many scanning abilities that will completely counter Bangalore’s smoke, not to mention digital threat scopes. Although, aim assist is nerfed when firing in a smoke.
Despite some light nerfs in Seasom 19, Bangalore is still a viable pick. Players who main her regularly will become proficient at the best time to use her abilities. Double Time is also one of the best passives in the game, even if it has been cut down.
Respawn also increased the cooldown for Bangalore’s ultimate to 240s, making it one of the longest cooldowns of any ult.
Check out our best tips for playing as Bangalore.
Crypto
Crypto has gotten some love from Respawn in Season 22 and has slowly been climbing the pick rate charts ever since. He is still a niche pick, but not entirely unwieldy like he has been in the past.
With team coordination, the Surveillance Expert has the potential to be great. He predominantly suffers from the rest of the team constantly pushing it and being outnumbered, but coupled with more thoughtful gameplay, Crypto can be a good pick.
Crypto isn’t a bad character but is simply a more cerebral Legend than most players will want to use, so it is hard to justify his position at any higher tiers on our list.
Check out our tricks on how to play Crypto.
Conduit
Added in Season 19, after Respawn took a break from adding new characters, Conduit is not a massive shake-up of the meta but is still a great character to try.
Her abilities are not always game-winners, but there are certainly a lot of benefits to having her shield-granting powers on your side.
Her Ultimate, which sends out a bunch of devices that damage and slow enemies, can be useful, but we’re not convinced it quite satisfies the sense of a truly powerful ultimate, worth waiting for.
Maggie
On paper, Maggie was a scary sight when she was unveiled ahead of Season 12. However, her kit has turned out to be just ok.
Her passive scan after damage is great but is rather short, so you rarely have to worry too much as long as you move quickly – or just shoot back. Her tactical, the drill, is certainly a highlight of her kit, but it’s also easy to waste by missing your shot.
If you love shotguns, Maggie will be a go-to pick thanks to her shotgun speed buffs, but it’s probably not enough to push her into the upper tiers – not yet anyway. We would be surprised if Maggie isn’t in line for some buffs.
Check out our tips for playing Mad Maggie here.
Newcastle
Newcastle certainly has a place in the meta as a support-oriented, defensive Legend, but he’s far from the best option overall in this role.
Crucially, his ability to get to teammates in need quickly makes him a perfect hybrid between a support character, and a character with great movement. If you compare it to other Legends who can zip across distances quickly (think Pathfinder next, with his grapple) Newcastle is simply much more effective at this.
However, Newcastle is not a popular pick for movement fans (e.g. Octane mains) or support players who will still prefer Lifeline. For now, that keeps him in the B-tier.
Check out our guide to playing Newcastle here.
Fuse
Fuse joined in Season 8 and has some very strong abilities on paper. Being able to stack two grenades per slot, and then slingshot them out, means he can deal a ridiculous amount of explosive damage, very fast.
His ultimate is fine, but it’s very easy for enemies to escape the ring of fire he puts down. Thankfully, Season 10 added the ability to track enemies caught in it, giving Fuse some much-needed power.
Fuse’s knuckle cluster now has two charges and a reduced cooldown for each charge of 20 seconds, and Respawn has made it last twice as long in Season. For these reasons, he finally escapes the C-tier and can move up to B.
Check out our tips on how to play Fuse.
Seer
Not only does Seer’s passive show you the direction of enemies with a heartbeat sensor, but his tactical can also scan, interrupt abilities, interrupt healing, interrupt revives, show enemies health bars, and track for 8 seconds. It doesn’t deal damage anymore, but that was more power than it really needed.
But, major nerfs in Seasons 18 and 19 have seen Seer drop out of the upper echelons of play, and he’s simply a worse Bloodhound in most situations.
Check out our tips for playing as Seer.
Rampart
Season 6’s Quick Witted Modder, Rampart, was comfortably one of the worst legends for most of her lifetime in the game. Fortunately, Respawn eventually tackled some of Rampart’s shortcomings to ensure she saw her full potential as a legend in Apex.
The most crucial change was allowing Rampart to move with her Ultimate, Shiela. Now, you can carry around the most powerful weapon in the game (Kraber notwithstanding) and take out enemies with aggression. Rampart’s walls have always been a useful ability and now pair even better with the Ultimate.
Rampart got a much-needed buff in Season 13 and has gotten another slight change in Season 22 that has bumped her into B-tier.
Check out our guide on how to play Rampart.
C-Tier characters in Apex Legends
Mirage
Mirage started off as a very underpowered character in Apex Legends. His Ultimate ability was pretty useless, and his Tactical felt a bit gimmicky compared to many of the others.
Thankfully, a rework eventually came, and those who master Mirage will argue he should be in A-tier. Certainly, with enough practice, and in the right hands, he can be a menace.
However, his abilities are still very one-dimensional, and he doesn’t offer a lot to a squad in terms of team play, outside of his ability to cloak when reviving.
Mirage’s Ultimate will definitely get you out of a tight spot, especially if you’re playing against less-skilled players who are more easily ‘bamboozled’. We still think Mirage could do with some more power though.
Check out our guide on how to master Mirage.
Ballistic
Ballistic was added in Season 17, and despite his advanced years, he’s already proven to be a great character to play, thanks to his versatile abilities.
Notably, his ultimate turns your whole team into the ultimate fighting squad, with faster reloads and movement speed, plus Ballistic’s Sling weapon gets kitted out.
Speaking of the Sling Weapon, Ballistic is the only character able to carry three weapons, and even if it can’t take attachments, this is still a great bonus in a pinch. And not much needs to be said about his smart-pistol-inspired tactical.
However, there were better options for solo players and ranked teams, and coordination is needed to play the Legend to the fullest.
Ash
The Season 11 Legend Ash is the first pilot to enter the Apex games (no, Valkyrie is not a pilot). Instantly, it was clear that Ash would be a popular pick with her kit at launch. Her Ultimate is similar to Wraith’s, except it’s only one way, and has a shorter maximum range. But, it’s much faster to use, and the cooldown is much shorter too.
Perhaps Ash’s strongest asset though is her passive. Identifying death boxes and then being able to use her data knife to get instant locations on the enemy squad is more recon information than most recon legends get (looking at you, Crypto).
Ashe is not a terrible character, but other more powerful Legends are available that do almost the same things.
Check out our guide to playing as Ash here.
Best Apex Legends characters for new players
- Bloodhound
- Lifeline
- Octane
- Loba
- Wraith
While there are many highly effective legends in Apex Legends, some are more difficult to master than others. For example, even though Valkyrie is a powerful Legend, mastering when to use her abilities best for your team might require more experience playing Apex.
Even though new players can find success using a variety of characters in Apex Legends, Bloodhound, Lifeline, Octane, Loba, and Wraith have strong and relatively easy abilities to use, so you can’t really go wrong in picking them.
If you need to make a quick escape, then Loba, Wraith, and Octane are all good picks and will let you reset before heading back into the fight.
That’s our current ranking of the characters in Apex Legends – but this list will change as future updates happen and new Legends are added throughout the game’s lifecycle.
Now that you know where each Legend shapes up in Apex’s current meta for season 22, combine these with the best guns to get the ideal results. And if you’re wondering how to get Heirloom Shards, our guide has all you need to know.
